Former Tallahassee CC Star Tyesha Robinson to Join Lady Patriots

The Central Florida women's basketball program has added a major piece to its 2010-2011 roster in Tallahassee CC transfer Tyesha Robinson.

Robinson will be eligible to suit up for the Lady Patriots after the holiday break this season.

A 5-9 guard out of Cocoa, Robinson started 27 games for the Lady Eagles in 2009-10, averaging 12.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in helping guide TCC to an appearance in the FCCAA State Championship game.

Her strong freshman season at Tallahassee followed a remarkable prep career at Cocoa High School. Robinson averaged 21.5 points and 12 rebounds per game in her senior campaign, earning first-team all-Cape Coast honors while setting the school's career points record at 1,793. 

Robinson fits in nicely with the new-look Lady Patriots roster, teaming with incumbent CF sophomores Canvis Scott and Shaunte Forward to bring experience to a freshman-heavy group.

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MLB Career Complete, CF Grad Brian Buscher Joins South Carolina Coaching Staff

Former Central Florida Patriots baseball standout Brian Buscher has taken a fitting next step in his baseball journey. The former Minnesota Twins major-leaguer has accepted a coaching position at his NCAA alma mater, the University of South Carolina.

"We are very happy to have Brian as a part of our coaching staff," said head coach Ray Tanner. "He had a tremendous career here and sustained that success in professional baseball. He will be a great influence for our student-athletes."

Buscher spent a solid seven years in pro baseball. He was drafted in 2003 by the San Francisco Giants, then taken in the Rule 5 Draft by Minnesota, where he logged 164 games with the big club over three seasons. The Jacksonville native signed a minor-league contract with the Cleveland Indians prior to the current season.

Catch up on CFPatriots.com's coverage of Buscher's recent career here.

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CF Announces Vacancy for Head Volleyball Coach

The College of Central Florida is now accepting applications for the position of head volleyball coach.

The addition of women's volleyball to the CF Patriots athletics program was approved in June; the team is set to debut in August of 2011. Click here for the NJCAA vacancy listing, and here for CF's list of employment opportunities.

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CF Men's Basketball Adds Reinforcements

The Central Florida men's basketball team has signed two late additions to the 2010-2011 squad, including the team's fourth NCAA Division I transfer.

A.J. Holland (left) is a 6-2, 170-pound combo guard transferring to the Patriots after a freshman season at Rice University. A native of Murray, Ky., Holland starred at Paul Bryant High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala., prior to his stint with the Owls, for whom he averaged 12 minutes per over 26 games. Holland joins Kevin Foster (George Mason), Mathiang Muo (Northeastern) and Addison Smith (Florida Gulf Coast) as incoming Patriots with experience at the Division I level.

Joshua McNally-Bibbins is a rugged 6-6 post prospect out of Staten Island, N.Y., where he starred for the Michael J. Petrides School. Watch a recruiting video of McNally-Bibbins in action here.

The two late additions bring the CF roster to 11. Signee Juandrico Walker, a high school prospect from Virginia, did not qualify academically and will not be a member of the 2010-2011 Patriots.
 
The Patriots open the regular season schedule Nov. 1, hosting South Carolina program Aiken Tech.

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CF Men's Basketball Seeks Team Manager

From the men's basketball office:

The men’s basketball program at College of Central Florida is looking to fill the position of team manager. We are looking for individuals who are willing to work hard and want to be part of a winning team. In order to be considered you must be a student at CF (maintaining a 2.0 G.P.A) and be able to provide transportation.

As Team Manager you will:

• Receive an in-state waiver for up to 12 credits per semester.
• Travel on road trips.
• To be a part of our program, contact Assistant Coach Tito Arias at (352) 854-2322 Ext.1636 for more information.

The men's basketball team is also holding an open tryout for current CF students enrolled in at least 12 credit hours this semester. The tryout will be held Monday, Aug. 30, at 8 p.m. in the gymnasium (Building 6). .

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Seven Local Prep Prospects Join CF Baseball Fall Roster

Central Florida baseball coach Marty Smith has added seven Marion County prep standouts to the Patriots' fall squad with an opportunity to play their way onto the final spring roster. The new Patriots are:

• 1B/OF Casey Elkins, Ocala Forest
• P Stephen Grabe, Ocala Vanguard
• C Timmy Guinn, Ocala Vanguard
• P Jon Morrison, Ocala West Port
• OF/1B Nick Radomski, Belleview
• P Christian Ryan, Ocala Meadowbrook
• 1B Christian Winningham, Ocala Trinity Catholic

The Patriots' fall exhibition schedule opens at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, against IMG Academy.  

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CF Softball Adds Accomplished Local Prep Coach to Staff

Central Florida Patriots softball coach Kerri Ryskamp has filled out her coaching staff, tapping former Forest High School coach Mike Lingle as assistant coach and Joe Furce as volunteer assistant.

A fixture of the local softball scene, Lingle adds a wealth of experience and recruiting connections to the CF program. Ryskamp said Lingle will handle pitchers and catchers while assisting in on-field instruction and practices. Furce, a longtime associate of Lingle's, will serve as bench coach during games and a contributor to practice sessions.

"The three of us together are all on the same page as far as coaching philosophy and team goals," said Ryskamp, a former star player at CF and Mercer entering her fourth season as Patriots head coach. "I think the addition of these two guys is really going to help turn our program around."

Ryskamp, Lingle and Furce have a mix of returning talents and new prospects to work with. The team capped a successful summer recruiting season last week, bringing the roster to 18 as fall workouts approach.

Lingle established Forest as a perennial contender in his seven-year tenure, winning 131 games and two district titles.

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CF Alum RIcardo Ratliffe an Early Favorite for Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Award

Ricardo Ratliffe's historic exploits with the Central Florida Patriots have earned him a set of very high expectations as his NCAA career begins. The Web site Big XII Hoops considers the rising Missouri junior a preseason favorite for the conference's Newcomer of the Year Award:

(Ratliffe) will help give Missouri some size that they desperately need and he should get plenty of opportunities to rebound and score in Mike Anderson's system. No one expects him to replicate his numbers from junior college but Tiger fans hope he can step right in and provide some consistent scoring.

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Patriots Sign D-I Transfer Mathiang Muo

Central Florida Patriots men's basketball coach Tim Ryan has found a gem in the late-summer recruiting landscape, signing 6-6 swingman and Northeastern University transfer Mathiang Muo.

Muo, a native of Sydney, Australia, appeared in 29 games for the Huskies in 2009-10, averaging 1.8 points and 1.2 rebounds while helping NU to a 20-13 record. Muo played his prep ball at the Patterson School in Patterson, N.C., and attended Quinnipiac University for a year prior to signing with Northeastern.

Muo is the second player this summer to transfer to the Patriots after a year in the Division I Colonial Athletic Association, joining George Mason transfer Kevin Foster.

The Patriots also signed former Gainesville Eastside guard Brian Pace, bringing the team's 2010-11 roster to 10. Ryan expects to sign two more players in the coming days. 

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CF Softball Rounds Out Roster with Four In-State Prospects

The Central Florida Patriots softball team has completed its 2010-2011 recruiting class with the addition of four Florida-bred prospects.

The newest members of coach Kerri Ryskamp's squad are Amie Biehl, a shortstop/outfielder from Chiefland; Jessica Lopez, a catcher out of Lake Wales; Ashley Murufo, an outfielder from the Bay Area's East Lee High School; and utility player Amanda Roach, a Lake City Columbia graduate.

Ryskamp's 18-player roster includes eight returning sophomores, a sophomore transfer and nine incoming freshmen.

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Three Patriot Softball Alumni to Reunite at Webber International

Three recent Patriot softball stars are combining their talents at a premier in-state NAIA program, signing with Webber International University in Babson Park.

Jessica McClellan is the latest to ascend to the next level, having completed a standout career at CF in 2010. The versatile utility player earned all-Mid-Florida Conference honorable mention as a sophomore.

McClellan joins 2009 CF graduates Staci Cauthen and Ashley Clark at WIU. Cauthen is transferring from Albany State, while Clark is a returning Warrior.

In other Patriot softball news, pitcher Megan Still, an All-MFC second-team selection as a freshman in 2010, will transfer to St. Leo University to complete her final three years of eligibility.